Travel at a Glance: Bangkok, Thailand

When considering Bangkok, Thailand (formerly known as Siam) as a travel destination, first consider that the visit will be to one of the most densely populated areas of that region of the world. Over 12 million people dwell in this city, popular for trade since the 15th century. The Thai name Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep translates into English as "city of angels." This name is popular in

many languages, such as its Spanish version, Los Angeles, United States. Not only is Bangkok the political, social and economic center of Thailand, it is one of the leading cities in the Southeast Asian region.

Ranked 3rd Top City Destination by Euro monitor International, Bangkok is only topped by London, England, and NYC in the USA. Tourists visit from the Asia Pacific region, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Scandinavia, and the United States. Although travelers from the Middle East and Russia did not rank as high as some of the other countries, their visitation to the area is rising. At least half of the tourists are repeat visitors, often times visiting during the Christmas and New Year holidays when Western tourists attempt to escape the cold conditions.

The three major languages spoken in Thailand are obviously the Thai language, Tinglisha somewhat comical name for the Thai version of the English language, and Farang, being a Thai word describing a foreigner of European ancestry. From a tourist's point of view the most interesting sites to visit are:

The Surin Elephant Round-up usually takes place on the third weekend of November. Since elephants no longer have the national importance as pack and service animals, their masters have turned to entertainment as a means to keep their way of life intact.

Over 40,000 Buddhist temples are in Thailand as of 31 December 2004, of which over 30,000 are in current use. Many of the beautiful temples are located in or around Bangkok and are of great interest especially to Western tourists. These temples as well as other World Heritage Sites (a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) as of special cultural or physical significance) are among the most popular sites to visit while in Bangkok.

Scuba diving in Thailand and surrounding islands is extremely popular due to the undersea visibility being up to 30 meters in some places. Combined with beautiful reefs and shipwrecks, diving is more popular now than ever.

Chatuchak

(or Jatujak)weekend market in Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand. Frequently referred to as J.J. and covering almost 40 acres (0.16 km²) containing over 5,000 stalls, J.J. has an estimated 200,000 visitors each day. In the vicinity of Bangkok there are many visually magnificent floating markets including the one in Damnoen Saduak. Some markets can be reached by sky train or by underground travel making the journey as interesting as the items that are actually found in the multitude of marketplaces.

These suggestions are only the tip of the iceberg of fun and interesting things to try in Bangkok. In general Bangkok is a safe place for tourists, even though there has been a great deal of unrest in the recent past, especially from May 13 to May 19 of 2010, when protests turned violent and disturbances between protesters and security forces lead to the deaths of 85 people including two foreign journalists. Travel in any area of the world at this time can be dangerous; however, with proper planning and research into any foreign area on the itinerary, the chances of being involved in a foreign dispute is no greater than meeting violence in one's own country.

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